Sailing craft

Abstract

A sailing craft having a mast mounted therein is provided with a track on the mast for supporting the vertical edge of a sail. To support the upper portion of the sail, an L-shaped gaff is provided having two legs, one leg being substantially parallel to the mast and contained against the mast by track slides or bolt ropes, while the other leg extends at an angle to the mast and supports the upper edge of the sail. The gaff is supported in an elevated position by a halyard that extends through a block at the upper tip of the mast, and a traveler is provided to change the position of the halyard along the gaff on the leg portion that extends away from the mast.

I claim: 
     
       1. In a sailing craft having a mast, a sail, track means on the mast supporting a vertical edge of the sail, a gaff in the form of an L-shaped plate having substantial width, said gaff fastened to the sail wherein its two legs support the upper edge of the sail, the first leg of said gaff that parallels the mast extending a substantial distance therealong and being held against the mast by said track means affixed to the sail, a second leg extending outwardly from said first leg and at an angle thereto and halyard means supporting the sail and gaff in an elevated position on the mast. 
     
     
       2. The combination of claim 1 including an adjustable traveler on said other leg of said gaff and wherein the halyard means supporting the sail is attached to said traveler. 
     
     
       3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the leg of the gaff at the upper edge of the said sail has a stiffening means therealong to resist bending. 
     
     
       4. The combination of claim 1 wherein the track means is external to the mast along the surface thereof and wherein track sliders are fastened to the sail and to the gaff to slidably support the same against the mast. 
     
     
       5. The combination of claim 1 wherein the track means is a groove and wherein the leading edge of the sail has an enlargement that engages the groove. 
     
     
       6. The combination of claim 5 wherein the gaff is fastened to the sail spaced from said enlargement on the sail to permit the free movement of the sail in the groove. 
     
     
       7. The combination of claim 1 wherein a mating plate in the form of the L-shaped gaff is provided, said plate sandwiching the sail.